Bryson DeChambeau Gives Embarrassing Quote on Dealing With Saudis in CNN Interview
1. If you are a longtime reader of Traina Thoughts or listener to SI Media With Jimmy Traina, you know I’m not a big golf guy. I’ll bet on the majors here and there so I can follow along with everyone else and avoid getting FOMO, but I couldn’t possibly care less about what happens with and/or to the sport of golf.
So when Tuesday’s merger between the PGA and LIV Golf happened, my reaction was basically the shoulder-shrug emoji. Having said that, I do enjoy covering media and love a good trainwreck interview.
Enter Bryson DeChambeau, who spoke to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday night.
The first four minutes of the five-minute interview was just typical blah, blah, blah, “this is good for golf,” cookie-cutter soundbites with the highlight being Collins referring to PGA commissioner Jay Monahan as “Pat Monahan.”
However, when Collins got to what makes the merger so controversial—the Saudis taking over professional golf—DeChambeau opted to spew nonsense instead of just saying, “We all want to make the most money possible.”
“We gotta look towards a pathway to peace,” DeChambeau said about working with the Saudis, “especially in forgiveness, especially if we’re trying to mend the world and make it a better place. I think this is what LIV is trying to accomplish. We’re all trying to accomplish a better world for everybody and a way to provide great entertainment for everybody around the world.”
Oh, please, with this vomit-inducing word salad. This is about money and nothing else. Hitting a small ball into a small hole 18 times isn't going to mend the world or provide peace. Stop insulting us.
This was not DeChambeau’s worst moment, though. That came a few seconds later when Collins asked this question: “It’s not just about 9/11. Does it make you uncomfortable at all because ... it’s not just that. They’re accused of financing terrorism. They’re also accused of killing a Washington Post reporter, Jamal Khashoggi. How do you feel knowing that that is where the money is backed by?"
This flustered DeChambeau because his answer was just mind-boggling.
“It’s unfortunate what has happened and that’s something I cannot necessarily speak on. I’m a golfer. But what I can say is that what they’re trying to do, what they’re trying to work on is to be better allies because we are allies with them. I’m not going to get into politics. I’m not specialized in that. What I can say is they’re trying to do good in the world and showcase themselves in a light that hasn’t been seen in a while and nobody’s perfect but we’re all trying to improve in life.”
“IT’S UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED?!?”
“NOBODY’S PERFECT?!?!
“IT’S UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED” AND “NOBODY’S PERFECT!!!!”
That is your response to a question about 9/11 and an American journalist being killed? DeChambeau and every other golfer would be so much better off just saying, “We have a small window to make huge money and we’ve decided our earning power. This is just about money.”
That would be so much less offensive than saying “nobody’s perfect” in response to a question about 9/11.
2. Kim Kardashian wearing a T-shirt featuring her sister Kendall’s five NBA boyfriends—Blake Griffin, Ben Simmons, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma and Devin Booker—is highly amusing. And the shirt costs only $13.
3. Speaking of celebrities and athlete boyfriends, Bovada has posted odds on who will be Taylor Swift's next relationship, and the list is packed with sports figures. I love the value on Jimmy G at +2000.
Christian Pusilic +1500
Lewis Hamilton +1500
Jimmy Garappolo +2000
Tom Brady +2000
Devin Booker +2500
Aaron Rodgers +3000
Jimmy Butler +4000
Shohei Ohtani +4000
4. Mets left fielder Jeff McNeil had quite an adventure fielding a ball during Tuesday’s loss to the Braves.
5. RIP to ’80s WWE legend The Iron Sheik.
If you're a wrestling fan, I can't recommend the A&E WWE Legends episode on the Sheik, which aired two months ago, enough.
6. The latest SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with Pat McAfee.
Topics covered with McAfee during the one-hour interview include:
• Why is he joining ESPN?
• Will he be able to have non-ESPN guests on his show?
• How much creative control will ESPN have?
• Why is he leaving FanDuel?
• Did his year as a cohost on College GameDay play a role in his joining ESPN?
• Will he ever go back to the WWE?
• His relationship with Vince McMahon
• How McMahon and the WWE’s Nick Khan helped him make a decision about his show
• Getting a compliment from former President Barack Obama
• His new spin on the famous botched fake punt he was a part of
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: There's probably no one who cares less about the LIV-PGA merger than Jerry Seinfeld.
Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
